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Expressing alarm over reports that the Tata Group is ‘going through the motions’ and was looking to ‘dispose’ of its UK steel operations in a matter of weeks, the Unite representatives warned Mr Mistry against a ‘fire sale’ of its UK steel business.

Tony Burke said: “Representing over 450,000 manufacturing workers Unite understands only too well the dangers that would be associated with a vote to leave the European Union and its potential to put future investment decisions in serious doubt."

"When he meets steelworkers, Sajid Javid needs to commit to ensuring British steel can compete on a level playing field by promising to drop his opposition to higher EU tariffs of cheap Chinese steel and honour the commitments to help with energy costs which were quietly watered down by George Osborne in his budget."

The UK’s largest defence union Unite will bring defence workers and leading industry figures together in Preston for a special conference to discuss growing frustrations with the government’s short term decision-making in the defence sector and the urgent need for UK money to be spent supporting UK workers.

According to the Office for National Statistics figures, output per hour across the UK economy in 2014 was 18 per cent below the average for the rest of the major G7 advanced economies, representing the widest productivity gap since comparable estimates began in 1991.

Monday’s march to European Commission and European Parliament comes as the UK government stands accused of betraying steelworkers after it emerged that the secretary of state for business, Sajid Javid MP, had blocked the EU from putting higher trade tariffs on cheap Chinese steel.

Members of Unite in the defence sector and leading industry figures will be gathering in Preston on Monday 21 March for a special conference to highlight the growing frustrations with the government’s short term political decision-making in the defence sector.